Week 15
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- the next 4 weeks are a period of rapid growth for your baby
- length is right around 4 inches, and your baby weighs nearly 2 ounces
- baby's skin is covered with very fine white hair called laguno
- the skin at this point is transparent so tiny blood vessels are visible
- an x-ray done during this week (hypothetically speaking) would reveal an actual skeleton, as baby's bones continue to develop and harden
- you are into the 2nd trimester and may be feeling better after experiencing morning sickness in the first trimester
- it may be time to start shopping for clothes with elastic waistlines and shirts that don't need to be tucked in, but it's probably too soon for pants with panels and full maternity tops
- one trick is to use an elastic band through the button hole on your pants, looped around the button, it gives you an extra inch or two around the waistline and may tide you over until you can get to the maternity shop
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Week 16
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- baby's growing fast, this week she's 4.75 inches (120mm) tall and weighs nearly 4 ounces (110g)
- legs are well-developed now and tiny toes are growing toenails
- slow eye movements can be seen by ultrasound through closed eyelids, the eyelids will not re-open until around the 26th week
- your uterus and placenta are growing along with your baby, by the end of your pregnancy your uterus will have expanded to 30 times it's pre-pregnancy size
- between 16 and 18 weeks LMP you may have a blood test done to determine the level of alphafetoprotein in your blood, this protein is produced by your baby and an abnormally high level may indicate a spinal cord problem or nervous system defect - to learn more about this and other blood tests, click here
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Week 17
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- baby is around 5 inches long this week and weighs between 4 and 5 ounces
- this week baby starts to develop fat, which is involved in heat production and metabolism
- as the body grows, the head begins to assume more baby-like proportions, about 1/3 of the length by the end of this month
- baby's face is continuing to appear more distinct and individual characteristics can be seen
- stretchy clothes or maternity clothes are becoming more necessary as you progress into the 2nd trimester
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Week 18
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- your baby has been moving for weeks, but this week or soon you will be able to feel little whispery touches, this is referred to as quickening
- length is around 5.5 inches and he weighs around 5.5 to 6.5 ounces
- you should be able to feel your uterus about 1 inch below your belly button
- you may have an ultrasound scheduled in the next couple of weeks, a great chance to see all these miracles up close, you may be able to bring a blank video tape to your appointment and record the ultrasound, what a wonderful keepsake!
- as your uterus gets heavier with baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid, you may notice your round ligaments getting stretched, a slightly painful sensation on either side of your lower abdomen, this is totally normal and may be relieved if you can rest on your side, contact your doctor if the pain is severe
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